History

Founded in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the oldest and most effective civil rights organization in the country. No other organization has the history of striving for justice and equality and fighting for civil rights that the NAACP does.

In 1942, when the United States was focusing its efforts on struggles abroad brought on by World War II, the Black residents of Metuchen and Edison were focusing on a different struggle: racial equality in their communities. As a result, on October 13, 1942, the charter for the Metuchen-Edison Area Branch of the NAACP was received. During the tumultuous Civil Rights Movement era of the ‘50s and ‘60s, members of the Metuchen-Edison Area NAACP branch were instrumental in bringing about changes relating to discriminatory housing practices and segregation in schools.

The Metuchen-Edison area branch of the NAACP offers its members and the central New Jersey community information regarding the status of civil rights in their community – and the nation. Our members are the backbone of our organization! Your membership will make you a part of a nationwide network of thousands fighting for justice, civil rights, and the betterment of their communities.

Below are a few of our accomplishments:

1988: Branch successfully worked with the Middlesex County Public Defender’s Office to expose racial profiling within NJ State Police. Over 600 profiling cases were dropped because of this cooperation. Started one of the State’s first expungement program.

1991: Partnered with the Princeton Association of Black Seminarians to sue Denny’s Restaurant from selling racially offensive mugs depicting negative Black caricatures. A settlement resulted in a contribution of $5,000 to the United Negro College Fund and the appointment of Dr. Vera King Farris, then President of Stockton College of New Jersey to Denny’s parent company board of directors.

1994: Provided legal representation to five Rutgers students who participated in a march against Rutgers President Dr. Francis Lawrence’s racially charged comments that equated standardized test scores with genetics. With the assistance of the New Jersey Speak Out! Organization, we were able to raise enough money to provide legal counsel and pay the students’ fines.

1996: Branch successfully lobbied for the “New Jersey State Genetic Privacy Act.” The act protects the perspective policyholder’s family medical history from health insurers attempting to use this history to deny coverage.

2008: Branch was part of a NAACP State Judicial Committee that met with Governor Corzine, resulting in the appointment of over 22 Blacks to the Superior Court Bench. Committee also met with NJ Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, resulting in the appointment of Glen Grant as the first African-American Acting Administrative Director of the Courts. He is responsible for overseeing all state and municipal courts in New Jersey and the 7 million cases they handle each year.

2009-2010: Investigated the overpopulation of African-American and Hispanic youth in the Middlesex County Workhouse. Our recommendations were adopted resulting in an 80% reduction of detained youth state-wide.

2012: Achieved a discrimination and harassment settlement against the NJ Transit Police Department for 10 minority transit police officers in the amount of $5.8 million. The terms included training for all superior officers, reinstatement of the only plaintiff not still employed, and the appointment of an Ombudsman to hear future discrimination complaints.

2016 & 2017: Worked with local and county law officials to examine the criminal justice reforms needed to positively transform the relationship between police and the residents of New Jersey. Successfully lobbied to overhauling NJ’s broken bail system. The new law allows non-monetary release options and clears timelines for speedy trials. Received the Lillian & Lillian Foundation Award for the prevention of domestic violence through education & awareness.

2018: Organized a public forum in June on police shootings at Middlesex County College attended by Attorney General Grubir Grewal. Organized additional public forums on immigration, bias crimes and drug abuse. Received a ‘Community Award’ from the National Organization of Black Law Executives.

2019: Currently tutoring students in STEM and Civics at the Edison Job Corps Academy.

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Our Mission

The mission and the objective of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.

Our Vision

The vision of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination.